Heather Ainsley
news@greenepublishing.com
Believe it or not, you're wasting electricity. With the July heat waves just around the bend, you're going to want to save energy wherever you can to make up for that hefty air conditioning bill when summer really gets swinging. While there is much to be considered about energy conservation while building or renovating a home, such as installing quality insulation, energy-efficient house systems, and installing programable thermostats, there are still lots of ways you can limit your energy usage without altering the permanent fixtures in your home. This is great news for those who are renting, or are living in a home where energy-saving updates to the house are not an option.
The easiest way to save energy is to turn things off. While there are generally appliances or electronics in your home that are best left on (digital clocks and refrigerators for example), the majority of your electric items can benefit from being given a good break when they aren't in use. Hit that power button on the television remote, turn off light switches when leaving a room, and shut down computers when not in use. If it can be turned off, it doesn't necessarily need to be on all the time. If you find this task to be a little tedious, invest in a power strip, and switch multiple items off at once. Always be sure to only plug in electronics that are considered safe for power strip use to prevent fire hazards or electrical shortage.
If it's not charging, unplug it. There are many items that require a good charging station, including phones, gaming controllers, i-pods, rechargeable batteries, lights, lamps and other decorative items. While there is certainly nothing wrong with allowing these electronics to recharge at their charging stations as needed, consider the state of each charging station when it isn't being used. Even when not in use, many chargers give off light or use small amounts of energy. At the end of the day, that's energy you are paying for. Unplug chargers when not in use. You may feel the charger is warm to the touch – this is a clear indicator that it has been using up energy!
Light bulbs are an easy item to replace that can make your home more energy efficient. One of the goals in saving energy is saving money, so you don't have to rush out right away and buy a new bulb to replace perfectly good bulbs that you already have in your house. But sooner or later, every bulb is going to blow, and when the time comes for replacing those burned-out bulbs, consider investing in some LED bulbs instead of incandescents. LED lightbulbs are far more energy efficient, using up to 85 percent less energy while providing the same amount of light. In addition to this perk, LED bulb technology has come a long way, and LED bulbs can come in a variety of colors, shapes and intensities, depending on your needs. Some utility companies will even offer a rebate for energy-efficient bulbs, which can save you even more money. Call your electric company to check about rebates.
Don't overdo it. While we want the machines in our house to do their intended functions, we don't need to run them at peak performance for every single mild job. Laundry machines are some of the biggest consumers of energy in the home. When loading the clothes dryer, don't overload the machine, and never place wet clothes in with dry clothing, no matter what sort of rush you are in. Clean the lint filter each time you use your dryer, as this can keep your machine running smoothly and can lower the risk of fire hazards. For general loads of clothing that are not heavily soiled, a casual wash in cold water is sufficient to get them clean. Be sure to use the appropriate water level, and save the “heavy-duty” hot water cycles for the really dirty stuff. Likewise, your dishwasher doesn't need to run on a heavy duty setting every time you run it. While you may feel you are getting a deeper clean, for casual jobs, a casual cycle is sufficient to sanitize your dishes. That's why the machines come with those functions in the first place. If your machines are not cleaning efficiently on lower setting for easy jobs, consider hiring a professional to come out and take a look. An old or worn-out machine can use way more power than one that is in good condition.
Check the temperature of your home features: your water heater and your thermostat. Your water heater has a setting for how hot it makes the water in the tank for use in your home's faucets. If the water coming out of the taps is hot enough to burn your hand or is uncomfortable to the touch, your heater setting can be lowered. This can save you money in the long run, and can also save your skin from burns or drying out! Consider what temperature is comfortable in your home, and raise the temperature a few degrees when you aren't planning on being there. Note that large fluctuations can put strain on your air conditioner, so it is not advised that you completely turn off your air conditioning for short absences. An A/C unit has to try harder and run longer to cool a home down if the temperature gets really high, which will actually cost you more money than turning off your A/C saved you.
While these are all easy changes to make, they are just the start. While some individuals are unable to make permanent changes or renovations, other homeowners may be able to offset the cost of repairs with rebates offered by their utility company. Many energy companies offer home improvement rebate programs that can help incentivize homeowners to upgrade or renovate their homes in ways that make them more energy efficient. Through these programs, eligible customers can complete a home energy check to help assess their electricity usage and to go over past and current energy consumption in the home. An expert will then come to the home and recommend certain improvements be made that can lower the monthly energy bill and increase the efficiency of the home's energy usage. To incentivize these improvements, they can offer discounts for further assessments, repairs, replacements or installations. To see if your utility company has any current offers, or to see if you qualify, contact them to learn more.
Saving energy doesn't have to be difficult or require a significant remodel to save you money. If a major home improvement project is out of the question, you can still save energy by changing a few simple things around your home. The savings might not be astronomical, but they can certainly add up over time.